Two Local Districts Win Voter Support

Two local school districts won voter support Tuesday for levy issues on the special election ballot.

The Hillsdale Local School District's new 7.9-mill, four-year operating levy passed by an unofficial tally of 999 to 821.

It was the third time Hillsdale had sought approval of a new levy since November 1998, with the previous two attempts going down to defeat.

Residents of the Southeast Local School District kept intact what has been a perfect record of voting for permanent improvement levies, turning thumbs-up on a five-year, 1.9 mill renewal by a margin of slightly more than two-to-one.

The issue will generate a projected $269,500 per year for maintenance of the district's buildings.

The Hillsdale levy will cost taxpayers owning a $50,000 home $10.11 per month. It is the first increase in revenue voted for the district since 1991 and will provide funds for utility bills, fuel for buses, staff salaries and other necessities of education.

"I would like to thank the community for its support," Hillsdale Superintendent Joel Roscoe said. "And I would especially like to thank the levy committee. They put an awfully lot of hard work into seeing that it passed.

"I heard a lot from voters that they might favor an income tax for part of our school's funding instead of all property tax levies," Roscoe said. "I have been having discussions with the (Ashland County) auditor about the possibility of offering one of our future renewal levies as an income tax.

"The only problem foreseen there is that it takes about 18 months from the time an income tax passes until the school sees the money."

Three Hillsdale School Board members were at the Ashland County Board of Elections waiting for results with Roscoe, and they assured him that Hillsdale bus schedules will be reinstated at Tuesday's regularly scheduled board meeting at 7:30 p.m.

Bus routes for each of the three district buildings will be operating on the first day of school, Aug. 24.

Southeast votes in the special election totaled 448 in favor and 218 against. In Wayne County, 398 voted for the renewal, with 155 against. Turnout was about 11 percent with only 558 of a registered 5,166 voters districtwide casting ballots.

"The renewal," Southeast Superintendent John Tooley said, "will enable us to accomplish interior and exterior projects and to purchase needed equipment."

Among the major projects the district has identified are repairing and tuck pointing the exteriors of four elementary schools over the next five years, providing wheelchair accessibility at the schools, improving parking lot lighting and installing security cameras.

In the area of equipment purchases, Tooley said he district wants to install a central districtwide freezer for food items rather than continue to operate individual freezer units at the various buildings, and replace a World War II era truck that is used for snow plowing and maintenance work.

Among numerous interior building projects are replacement of sewer pipes at Apple Creek Elementary, refinishing wood floors at three elementary schools, replacing the stage curtains at John R. Lea Middle School and painting rooms according to schedule.

"The money will allow us to continue the tradition here of maintaining our buildings in a safe and educationally sound condition," Tooley said. "We will continue to be good stewards of the resources and will work to fulfill the projects that have been planned using these funds."

Tooley thanked all who worked on behalf of the levy renewal and said he was "delighted, just very happy" that the measure passed.